Things seem pretty dark right now, don't they? A plague is running rampant across the planet, and many governments are failing to take it serious. The economy is collapsing, and everything is canceled. It sucks!

It's not all bad news, though. Nintendo is releasing a new Animal Crossing game this week, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. If ever the world needed an Animal Crossing, it's now. But here's some even better news: You won't have to wait until Friday to get your Animal Crossing on. You can dive in and enjoy an island vacation... now. With this episode, which spans the nearly 20-year history of the franchise.

It's a chill conversation, but fully informative. Just as you'd expect from Retronauts.

Thanks once again to Greg Leahy for skillfully editing this episode, to Greg Melo for the artwork, and to Mike Choi for a certain bangin' piece of music.

Episode description: Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, Mike Choi, and USgamer's Caty McCarthy chill out for an hour and a half to discuss the low-key world of Animal Crossing, from its primal Nintendo 64 version through its modern-day spinoffs. Music by Mike Choi; art by Greg Melo.